Best of Sikkim and Darjeeling Tour -12 Days

The "Best of Sikkim and Darjeeling Tour" offers the travel bugs, an opportunity to get acquainted to two of the most picturesque hill stations-viz. Sikkim and Darjeeling, located in the Indian state of West Bengal. If you are eying for a short vacation in the serene hills, the deal for you is right here. In less than a fortnight, you will be able to cruise around all the famed tourist hot spots of these magnificent hilly paradises.

The trip begins with an hour's flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, a small town in proximity to Nepal's eastern border with India. You will find our representative waiting for you at the airport. You better get hand and glove with him because he is the one who is going to be your guiding star throughout this tour. From Bhadrapur we take a private car and drive all the way to Kakarvitta, another town right at Nepal's eastern border with India. After some custom and immigration formalities here, we then drive ahead entering the Indian premises (state) of West Bengal. Our destination for the day is Darjeeling, also known as "the queen of hills". Exploring this hill station, our drive continues as we take a day's halt at Yuksum and then at Pemayangtse. From here, we cruise ahead to Gangtok, the beautiful capital of Sikkim. We stay for about 3 days in Gangtok, getting fully indulged in the sightseeing. The drive continues to get meticulous along the narrow and curvy roads as we arrive to Kalimpong, another stunning hill station known for its British styled schools and Gauripur House (home of the great Bengali poet Ravindra Nath Tagore). After the exploration in Kalimpong is over, we drive back to Bhadrapur and eventually take a flight to Kathmandu.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (91m/1 hr) and drive from Bhadrapur to Darjeeling (2050m) via Phuntesoling (4-5 hrs)

Day 04: Sightseeing in Darjeeling

Day 05: Drive from Darjeeling to Yuksum (1780m/2 hrs)

Day 06: Drive from Yuksum to Pemayangtse (2084 m/4 hrs)

Day 07: Drive from Pemayangtse to Gangtok (1650m/5hrs)

Day 08: Sightseeing day in Gangtok

Day 09: Another sightseeing day in Gangtok

Day 10: Drive from Gangtok to Kalimpong; half day sightseeing in Kalimpong (1250m/3hrs)

Day 11: Drive from Kalimpong to Bhadrapur (91m/4-5 hrs) via Phunsoling and flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu

Day 12: Final departure

Important Snippets

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your designated hotel. Once at the hotel, you are greeted with welcome drinks. We will then have a quick pre-trip meeting, where you are briefed on the trip itineraries and some formalities that ought to be pursued. Depending on the time remaining, you can either rest or stroll around the vicinity of your hotel to get the feel of this busy, colorful and energetic capital of Nepal. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02:Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

After breakfast, hop in to our transport vehicle for a guided tour to the most historical and renowned landmarks in Kathmandu. You will be exploring the sites like - Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple (The Most Revered Hindu Shrine) and Swayambhunath (The Monkey Temple). Which are all included in the UNESCO world’s cultural heritage list. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Marron Treks. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (91m/1 hr) and drive from Bhadrapur to Darjeeling (2050m) via Phunsoling (4-5 hrs)

After breakfast you will be driven to the domestic wing of Tribhuvan airport. You board a flight to Bhadrapur, which is a small city located near Nepal's eastern border with India. Within an hour you will find yourself at a very unsophisticated looking airport of Bhadrapur. A representative from Marron Treks will receive you who will accompany you throughout the tour in India. We drive on a private car to Kakarvitta, which is the last town before Nepal's eastern border with India. We have to wait here for sometime until a custom and immigration formalities are sorted out. Crossing Kakarvitta, we immediately enter the Indian state of West Bengal. Our drive continues to Siliguri, a busy Indian town, where we possibly halt for lunch. The post lunch drive commences towards Darjeeling, a beautiful British designed hill station cum school town of India. The road to Darjeeling comprises of treacherous hair-pin curves. As you glance out of the car's window you can see the snaky tracks below which you just traversed. In about 5-6 hours you will reach Darjeeling. One can clearly feel the chilly winds hitting the ribs hard. We have an extra day at Darjeeling tomorrow, so we can get ourselves well rested and take a sound sleep. Overnight at hotel in Darjeeling; breakfast included.

Day 04: Sightseeing in Darjeeling

On the chilly morning at Darjeeling, we wake up only to be greeted with a steamy cup of coffee/tea. We then freshen ourselves and have our breakfast. The sightseeing then begins with a drive along the narrow and curvy roads of this splendid hill-town. Darjeeling has many popular sites worth visiting. Our sightseeing covers most of the famed spots herein, viz. Tiger Hill (it offers a spectacular mountain and sunrise views) Ghoom Monastery (Yiga-Choling), statue of Maitreya (future Buddha). The post lunch sightseeing includes the visits to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, Tea Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and local marketplace. We will also have an opportunity to take a ride in the famous Toy Train (subject to operation) up to Ghoom. Overnight at hotel in Darjeeling; breakfast included.

Day 05: Drive from Darjeeling to Yuksum (1780m/2 hrs)

Yuksum is just about 2-3 hours' drive from Darjeeling, so we can actually start off late. After breakfast we can still stroll around downtown, perhaps shopping some of the exclusive woolen items, dried cheese and the very famous locally made lollipops. If you are one of those food freaks, we suggest you to try out the spicy non-veg dumplings (mo-mo) in one of the local restaurants here. The dumplings are usually served with tasty seasonings; no doubt, they are hot but equally irrestible! We then drive to Yuksum, where we wrap up our journey for the day. Overnight at hotel in Yuksum; breakfast included.

Day 06: Drive from Yuksum to Pemayangtse (2084m/4hrs)

Soon as we are done with our breakfast the drive to Pemayangtse commences which takes about 4 hours. We have our lunch in one of the local restaurants here and then head on for a short hike (1 hour) to Sangacholing Monastery. The remaining time is on your own. You can either rest or stroll around the vicinity. Overnight at hotel in Pemayangtse; breakfast included.

Day 07: Drive from Pemayangtse to Gangtok (1650m/5 hrs)

We gobble up an early breakfast and take a short hike to the Pemayangtse Monastery nearby. After that our drive to Gangtok begins. It takes us about 5 hours to reach Gangtok, which is a colorful and sophisticated capital of Sikkim state. Considering the long drive along the curvy roads, most of us might not be in a good shape to walk around Gangtok today. So we drive in to our hotel and rest in order to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's activities here. Overnight at hotel in Gangtok; breakfast included.

Day 08: Sightseeing day in Gangtok

We are at the capital of Sikkim state, so sightseeing should definitely be on the cards. After breakfast we drive to the Rumtek Monastery and Tibetology & Orchid Sanctuary. The post lunch tour comprises of a visit to Enchey Monastery, Cottage Industry, Tashiling, White Hall & Lal Market. Overnight at hotel in Gangtok; breakfast included.

Day 09: Another sightseeing day in Gangtok

Our exploration of this beautiful and sophisticated hilly capital continues throughout the day today. The attractions for the day are Tashiview Point, Phudong Monastery, Hanuman Tak, the palace of the former king and Chief Minister's residence. Gangtok is literally crammed with good hotels, parks, shopping malls etc. The saying, "all good things come in small packages" goes pretty well with Gangtok. The city is small, yet equipped with all the modern amenities. Overnight at hotel in Gangtok; breakfast included.

Day 10: Drive from Gangtok to Kalimpong; half day sightseeing in Kalimpong (1250m/3hrs)

After early breakfast, we drive to Kalimpong. Upon arrival we check in to our hotel and freshen ourselves. The half day sightseeing begins after lunch. The attractions for the day are Durpin Dara, Tharpa Choling Monastery, Zong Dog Palri, Fo-brang Monastery, Nursery & local market. Kalimpong is also well known for its British styled schools. Most of children from the eastern region of Nepal are brought here by their parents for schooling. We can take a sneak peek on some of such schools here. Overnight at hotel in Kalimpong; breakfast included.

Day 11: Drive from Kalimpong to Bhadrapur (91m/4-5 hrs) via Phunsoling and flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu

Its time now we say good bye to this lovely hill station. After an early breakfast we drive back to Bhadrapur airport. Its actually a long drive along the narrrow and curvy roads for about 4-5 hours. We then board on a flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and transferred to your hotel. The remaining time is on your own. You would probably want to do some souvenir shopping at Thamel. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner party featuring a range of mouth watering Nepali cuisines, followed by a live cultural program. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

Day 12: Final Departure

Unless you would want to extend your trip and try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc. this will be your last day in Nepal. A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport for the final departure to your homeland. Have a safe flight back home. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Important Snippets

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

We arrange the best quality food for all trekkers while Sikkim& Darjeeling Tour. Basically we recommend you local community foods of Sikkim so that you could enjoy the culture, the way of living of local people around there.Other than that many kind of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisine like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads etc are also available in most of the places based upon your requirement.

Best Months

In general speaking, from March-May & October-December is the best months for Sikkim & Darjeeling Tour.

Our Guides

The Guides play a very active role during the trip. Marron Treks has experienced and helpful guides who make your trip enjoyable as well as successful. To make our visitors journey fruitful, the team of MarronTreks has got number of guides who have good knowledge about the culture, language, location of Sikkim which would help our visitor to enjoy the full potential of the trail and communicate easily with the people along the trail.

Entry Formalities

Foreigners require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) in addition to normal Indian visa to enter Sikkim and can visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Pemayangtse. No permit is required to enter & stay in Darjeeling & other parts of North Bengal including Kalimpomg.

All foreigners intending to visit Sikkim can avail of 15 days inner-line permit with a further 15 days extension available in Gangtok. Re-entry into Sikkim is not possible within 3 months of leaving Sikkim. Restricted area permit for individuals & groups for restricted areas i.e., Gangtok. Rumtek, Phodong, Pemagyantse can be obtained in advance from all Indian missions aboard, Sikkim tourism offices at Delhi, Calcutta, Siliguri & Gangtok, after furnishing requisite documents. A standard Permit allows one to visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodong and Pemagyantse. The permits are checked and the visas stamped while entering and leaving Sikkim.

Foreigners without a valid passport and permit are not allowed to enter Sikkim. The best and the easiest way to get the permit is when the individual/group is getting their Indian visa stamp on their passport. All they have to do is express their desire to visit Sikkim & the Indian missions abroad endorses the permit while granting the India visa.

Access

From Kathmandu, fly to Bhadrapur in the east Nepal (1 hour), then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 34 km), to Siliguri (36 km) and to Gangtok (110 km, 3 hours 30 minutes). Gangtok is also connected by road with Darjeeling (5 hours) and Bhutan (7 hours). The closest Indian airport is at Bagdogra, 124 km from Gangtok, where scheduled flights operate from Kolkata, new Delhi and Guwahati. Taxis for Gangtok (4 hours) are available at the airport. Grand Sikkim Tourism development Corporation also operates daily helicopter flights from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok (20 minutes).The closest railway stations are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri (121 km) which are connected to Kolkata,New delhi, Guwahati and other major Indian cities. Taxis and buses for Gangtok are available at Siliguri.

Travel Insurance

Before starting your journey with MarronTreks it is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure your insurance covers you for both medical and evacuation costs. In some places it is not necessary but it would be better if you have the travel insurance with you all the time. That would make your trip safe and hassle free.

Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days costs US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days costs US $40 and $ 100 respectively. You will need a valid passport and 2 copies of your recent PP sized photos).

Tip for tour guides, driver, hotel lobby staff and waiters. (Tipping is expected but not mandatory).

Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies.

Other expenses not mentioned in the “Cost Includes” section above.

Not Required...

Departure Date

Generally, the private tours do not have fixed departures. Please contact us directly and let us know about your preferred date for the trip. We will endeavor our best to ensure that your trip commences on the set date.

Trip Facts

Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request)

Trip Type: Private Tour

Trip Grade: Easy

Transportation: Flight/Private car

Highest Elevation: Pemayangtse (2084 m)

Lowest Elevation: Bhadrapur (91m)

Average Driving Hours: 3 Hours

Tour Commences From: Bhadrapur

Tour Terminates At: Bhadrapur

Best Months: Mar-May & Oct-Dec

Trip Highlights

Thoroughly entertaining tour that takes you along the treacherous curvy roads to the two of the most renowned hill towns of India

Interesting and informative tour around Kathmandu valley with an experienced city guide, visiting the most renowned historical and cultural landmarks

Relish the spectacular sight of sunrise and astounding Himalayan vistas from the vantage point of “Tiger Hill” in Darjeeling